Telephone test set keypad with integrated dynamic microphone

Abstract

Unwanted acoustic noise and environmental degradation associated with the use of a highly sensitive microphone in a telephone test set are eliminated by a microphone-integrated keypad laminate architecture, in which a microphone is snugly captured within a microphone holder molded into a pliable keypad unit and its leads sealed against the environment and case vibration. The keypad unit is supported by a keypad support structure adjacent to the test set's keypad face, so that the microphone holder is retained adjacent to an acoustic coupling port, and the keypad's keys are accessible by way of keypad apertures in the keypad face. A printed circuit board urges the keypad unit into engagement with the keypad support structure. The keypad unit and the printed circuit board have sealed aperture arrangements through which electrical leads of the microphone pass for connection to the circuit board.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture for a communication device comprising: a housing having an acoustic coupling port and a keypad mounting structure that is configured to support a microphone adjacent to said acoustic coupling port;   a keypad unit containing a microphone holder into which said microphone is installed, and being configured to engage said keypad mounting structure, so that said microphone holder is received by said keypad mounting structure adjacent to said acoustic coupling port of said housing; and   a circuit board urging said keypad unit into engagement with said keypad mounting structure of said housing; and wherein   said keypad unit and said circuit board have sealed aperture arrangements through which electrical leads of said microphone pass for electrical connection to circuitry of said circuit board.   
     
     
       2. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 1, wherein said sealed aperture arrangements are configured to provide an acoustic barrier around said electrical leads of said microphone. 
     
     
       3. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a plurality of apertures that provide access to respective keys of said keypad unit, when said keypad unit engages said keypad mounting structure. 
     
     
       4. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 1, wherein said keypad mounting structure comprises a multiple pocket-configured structure molded as part of an interior surface of said housing, said multiple pocket-configured structure having a keypad-engaging surface that generally conforms with a generally planar surface of said keypad unit. 
     
     
       5. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 4, wherein said keypad-engaging surface of said multiple pocket-configured structure is configured as a crush rib structure. 
     
     
       6. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 4, wherein said multiple pocket-configured structure includes a microphone pocket which adjoins said acoustic coupling port of said housing, and is configured to accommodate said microphone holder of said keypad unit, so that said microphone is supported adjacent to said acoustic coupling port of said housing. 
     
     
       7. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 6, wherein said sealed aperture arrangements comprise protective nipples captured within respective holes in said keypad unit, when said microphone is installed in said microphone holder. 
     
     
       8. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 7, wherein said protective nipples surrounding said microphone pass through corresponding bores in said circuit board. 
     
     
       9. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture for a telephone test set having an acoustic coupling port and a plurality of adjacent keypad apertures in a keypad face of said telephone test set, a keypad support structure adjacent to said keypad face of said telephone test set, a keypad unit having a microphone holder in which a microphone is installed and a plurality of keys, and being supported by said keypad support structure adjacent to said keypad face, so that said microphone holder is retained in said keypad support structure adjacent to said acoustic coupling port and said keys are accessible by way of said keypad apertures in said keypad face, a circuit board urging said keypad unit into engagement with said keypad support structure, and wherein said keypad unit and said circuit board have sealed aperture arrangements through which electrical leads of said microphone pass for electrical connection to circuitry of said circuit board. 
     
     
       10. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 9, wherein said sealed aperture arrangements are configured to provide a sealed acoustic barrier around said electrical leads of said microphone. 
     
     
       11. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 10, wherein said keypad support structure comprises a multiple pocket-configured structure molded as part of an interior surface of said test set, said multiple pocket-configured structure having a keypad-engaging surface that generally conforms with a generally planar surface of said keypad unit. 
     
     
       12. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 11, wherein said keypad-engaging surface of said multiple pocket-configured structure has a crush rib configuration. 
     
     
       13. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 12, wherein said multiple pocket-configured structure includes a microphone pocket which adjoins said acoustic coupling port of said housing, and is configured to accommodate said microphone holder of said keypad unit, so that said microphone is supported adjacent to said acoustic coupling port of said keyface of said test set. 
     
     
       14. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 10, wherein said sealed aperture arrangements comprise protective nipples captured within respective holes in said keypad unit, when said microphone is installed in said microphone holder. 
     
     
       15. A microphone-integrated keypad architecture according to claim 14, wherein said protective nipples surrounding said microphone pass through corresponding bores in said circuit board.